Cheryl Bergman

About
I'm a beauty and makeup junkie! It's always interesting to discover new products and share the results with others. Sites like this are great, since we all have new things to learn from each other. Currently I work for a vitamin company in their marketing department – a great job and access to all sorts of alternative ways to stay healthy! I also enjoy…writing, shopping, fashion, partying, meeting new people, traveling, discovering, cooking, natural health, creating ideas that weren’t here before, being outdoors (hiking, camping, swimming, & playing in the snow). More saduisahduiash dsau

4 Ways to Prevent Clogged Pores and Acne During Hot, Humid Weather

The summer sun is a welcome sight; but can it wreak havoc on your skin! These tips will help prevent your pores from clogging so you get fewer acne breakouts during blazing hot weather.

1. EXFOLIATE!

Heat and humidity cause skin oil and makeup to sink deeper into pores. Also, if you have gotten a sun burn, the peeling dead skin cells will block pores, harboring dirt, bacteria, makeup & oil inside. When you exfoliate using a facial scrub and hot water, these dead cells are dissolved and pores are purged of these acne-causing offenders. Try St Ives Apricot Scrub ($4) or SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub ($28).

2. USE TONER!

I’ve recently discovered an amazing natural toner for oily skin: Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). As a firm advocate of not using alcohol-based toners, which dehydrate the skin and cause more oil production, I have searched the world over for PH Balancing Toners. I’ve recently ditched my Proactive Toner ($14) and Body Shop Tea Tree Toner ($11) for plain old Apple Cider Vinegar ($3). Not only is it much less expensive, it does an amazing job of keeping pores clean, killing bacteria and preventing acne. Just dab it onto a cotton pad and swipe across face after cleansing & before your makeup routine. The strong smell will dissipate after a minute or so.

Before starting with ACV, I still got a few breakouts every week. Now, I only get a few breakouts every month! Any brand will work, but I currently use Bragg’s Raw Organic ACV. Keep in mind this is best for oily, seasonally oily, or very oily skin types. Those with consistently dry or combination skin types should probably stick to the Proactive or Body Shop varieties, or apply the ACV only once every couple of days.

Creating a barrier between your skin and makeup will do a world of good for your pores. Unlike heavy gel primers, powder primers allow skin to breathe while soaking up excess oil and preventing makeup from burrowing into the skin. When this breathable barrier is up, the results include: less facial oil production, smaller pore size, and reduction of acne breakouts. The best (and only powder primer) I’ve found is Mattify! Cosmetics line. It comes in Original ($8), Sensitive ($12), and Ultra ($14) varieties. Since my skin is so oily, I use the Ultra version. Apply it with a powder brush after your toner has dried and before your foundation. It can also be used over your makeup to set everything into place and stop oil from peeking through.

Remember how I said I’d get a few breakouts every week before discovering the ACV toner? Well before I bought the Ultra Powder Primer, I was getting 2-3 breakouts every single day! I’ve now discovered the importance of protecting the pores from sticky foundation, and it has made a huge difference in my complexion.

When your face starts to get oily or sweaty, have blotting papers on hand to dab away the moisture. Excess moisture on your face can cause makeup to become tacky to the touch, plugging up pores almost like glue. During warm months, always have blotters on hand to use 2-3 times daily. Simply press them against your face, starting with the T-Zone and moving outward. To prevent the blotting papers from smearing your makeup, just blot, don’t rub. After blotting, you can also apply fresh face powder to further prevent oiliness and even out your complexion. The Mattify Ultra Powder is excellent for using over makeup as well, and will help stop the oily build-up from returning so you have to blot less often. Two good blotting papers to try are Clean n Clear ($5) or Palladio Blotting Papers ($4).

By following these 4 tips, you will be in for a fresh-faced, beautiful summer. Enjoy the weather… before you know it, snow flurries will start to fall!